Why is Macbook Neo having A18Pro such a big deal?

[Andy_2341]

I seem to remember sometime after the iPhone 15 Pro launched, people were pointing out the capabilities of the A17 Pro with its speeds being close to M1 and having 8GB of RAM. People wanted Apple to make a way for the device to basically run iPad or macOS when docked and connected to an external display, mouse, and keyboard. I was one of those people and did as much as I could with iOS as it is.

Now we have basically the same thing, just brought to life in a slightly different form. Functionally speaking, the Neo is not as portable but is much more practical and uses the same core hardware as our iPhone dreams. So why are people so upset about the fact that it uses the A18 Pro and 8GB of ram now? Before it was desired and would be really cool. Now it's dumb and not sufficient for anything. What is the logic behind this? I'm genuinely curious.

Edit: Spelling

 

[raythompsontn]

Because people like to complain about Apple and like to think they are smarter than Apple. If these people were so wise, intelligent, filled with so much wisdom, why are they not being snapped up by Apple as an employee?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

So why are people so upset about the fact that it uses the A18 Pro and 8GB of ram now? Before it was desired and would be really cool. Now it's dumb and not suffient for anything.

MacBook Neo is still desired & really cool, to a HUGE population of potential users. It seems to be selling at or above expectations.

But - this is MacRumors. People gotta complain about something 😉 Ask 3 MacRumors forum members what the best device is, you'll get 4 answers.

 

[JPack]

Because some people feel threatened by Neo. It puts into question their MacBook Air/Pro purchase. If Neo is good enough, did they really need to spend to upgrade to 16GB+ RAM or from M1 to M4/Pro?

Leading up to the Neo launch, we read posts with all sorts of made-up, nonsensical roadblocks. Neo would run iPadOS, be limited to App Store apps, wouldn't run Rosetta, chip would burn up, wouldn't be supported for long, etc.

It's a classic case of cognitive dissonance. They spent a premium on higher-end models and can't un-spend the money. They devalue the threat called Neo.

 

[KPOM]

Tech-minded posters need to keep things in perspective. 10 years ago a computer with the specs of today’s MacBook Neo would have been one of the most powerful notebooks when 8GB was standard and 4GB notebooks were still available. Computing power has increased faster than the ability of most users to take advantage of it. Obviously other technologies such as AI have created the need for ever more powerful computers but people were cranking out PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets and emails when RAM was measured in megabytes or even kilobytes.

 

[Andy_2341]

Because some people feel threatened by Neo. It puts into question their MacBook Air/Pro purchase. If Neo is good enough, did they really need to spend to upgrade to 16GB+ RAM or from M1 to M4/Pro?

Leading up to the Neo launch, we read posts with all sorts of made-up, nonsensical roadblocks. Neo would run iPadOS, be limited to App Store apps, wouldn't run Rosetta, chip would burn up, wouldn't be supported for long, etc.

It's a classic case of cognitive dissonance. They spent a premium on higher-end models and can't un-spend the money. They devalue the threat called Neo.

That makes sense. I don't fell threatened but it does make me question the purchase of my MBA M4 for my needs. It's super overkill. I just wanted external drive support. I was just fine power wise on an iPad mini 6.

 

[JPack]

That makes sense. I don't fell threatened but it does make me question the purchase of my MBA M4 for my needs. It's super overkill. I just wanted external drive support. I was just fine power wise on an iPad mini 6.

Most people don't feel threatened because to them, a computer is a tool. Their M2/8GB still does what they need to do every day. Neo doesn't change that. They also understand they bought M2 in 2022 and Neo is today. Different timelines, different decisions.

But for the enthusiast, the MacBook is often an identity marker (they spent extra to get powerful gear). If Neo challenges that power, they feel threatened.

A lot of people who keep calling A18 Pro a phone chip do it as a defense mechanism. "My MacBook has a real computer chip, the Neo merely has a phone chip." But it works to Apple's advantage to upsell certain people.

 

[4sallypat]

That makes sense. I don't fell threatened but it does make me question the purchase of my MBA M4 for my needs. It's super overkill. I just wanted external drive support. I was just fine power wise on an iPad mini 6.

My coworker and I were chatting about our recent purchases - he got the M5 MBA because he wanted to do graphical editing, memes, sound editing and web page design.

I got the Neo for a travel laptop to replace my 12" rMB and a bedside Mac.

We both agreed that we got the correct tool for the job(s).

The Neo is not the perfect solution to heavy demanding use cases, but for what I do when I travel = it's perfect.

At home I do have a M2 MBA, M2 MBP, M1 Studio Max and M4 iMac but I don't want to take those serious and expensive devices along on holiday.

My Neo is just that - for travel and having fun - not work....

 

[raythompsontn]

If Neo is good enough, did they really need to spend to upgrade to 16GB+ RAM or from M1 to M4/Pro?

Truth be known, a NEO would serve my needs, with one exception. For that exception I use my W11 machine, 64GB Intel I9 water cooled with 4TB of storage. I have a MacBook Pro M4 Pro 24GB 1TB because I wanted one, not because I needed it. My choice, my money, my wants.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Leading up to the Neo launch, we read posts with all sorts of made-up, nonsensical roadblocks. Neo would run iPadOS, be limited to App Store apps, wouldn't run Rosetta, chip would burn up, wouldn't be supported for long, etc.

Oh, I remember this. And these people? Quiet as a mouse now.
Or they’ve moved on from complaining that it won’t be able to run apps outside of the App Store to now complaining that it has 8 GB of RAM… despite that very quickly proving itself as a non-factor.
Next, they will be complaining that you can’t get “real work done” on a 13 inch screen… typed from their 13.6 inch MBA…

 

[whitby]

People need to justify the purchase and decision they made and so will denigrate anything that might challenge that decision. I once read that most people read reviews in order to justify their purchases. I am not sure whether this is true but it is said to apply to all products and reviews.

The best advice is try it out for yourself and make your own decision. The fact that the Neo uses a processor used in last years iPhone is completely irrelevant. Does it do what you need and does spending more money on a solution make sense to you? You never have to defend that decision.

 

[maflynn]

pointing out the capabilities of the A17 Pro with its speeds being close to M1 and having 8GB of RAM

I never understood why apple was promoting such powerful processors in their phones. After all its just a phone, and 90% of the people only use it for texting, photos and some light weight apps. We don't need our phones to compute the mass of the universe.

why are people so upset about the fact that it uses the A18 Pro and 8GB of ram now?

I'm not seeing wide spread anger, dissatisfaction or negativity directed towards the processor - quite the opposite! They're shocked at how well its handling these tasks and its holding its own against the apple M series processors.

As for the 8GB, that's a funny topic. On one hand you have people saying for most tasks you don't need anything more - which I tend to agree with them, but I do think you'll feel the pain. On the other hand there's so many threads here where members for years were advocating to anyone and everyone that you need more then 16GB, then a couple of years later on 32GB, and then later 64GB of ram.

Now many of those people are saying 8GB is enough for anyone now and in the future.

Basically I find it humorous that folks here were advocating and pushing for the fastest machines with the most memory only to be the first to proudly proclaim the Neo is an awesome machine that fits their needs so well.

I'm not knocking the Neo at all, though some people here feel I've been unfairly harsh with my criticisms. The machine itself is fine and I think apple has a huge success on their hands.

 

[bapegg]

We have to remember that the A18 Pro only supports 8 GB

Is 8 GB enough? YES
Would 12GB or 16GB be better? YES

The Neo is for casual users that do not run memory intensive software. The Air and Pro are for those that do run more memory intensive software.

The desktop Macs and iPads are no different. With desktops you have the iMac and Mini, then you step up to the Studio and Pro. Then there is the iPad - iPad Air and iPad Pro models.

Hopefully the release of the Neo will keep Apple and software developers from filling the OS and apps with bloatware and keep them slimmed down to run with 8 GB.

As far as why go with the A18 Pro. The A series chips are even more energy efficient than the M series chips. This helps the smaller battery in the Neo last longer.

To be honest, phones are way more powerful than what most people need.

 

[4sallypat]

People need to justify the purchase and decision they made and so will denigrate anything that might challenge that decision. I once read that most people read reviews in order to justify their purchases. I am not sure whether this is true but it is said to apply to all products and reviews.

The best advice is try it out for yourself and make your own decision. The fact that the Neo uses a processor used in last years iPhone is completely irrelevant. Does it do what you need and does spending more money on a solution make sense to you? You never have to defend that decision.

^^^ 100% correct.

Those Neo critics with their insecurities, lack of inner confidence, inadequacy are what my psychologist friend told me - especially on specialty forums.

It's funny how a techie forum like MR can bring out the good and bad in people...

 

[bapegg]

It's funny how a techie forum like MR can bring out the good and bad in people...

The same thing happens on other forums too. It doesn't matter if we are talking about computers, vehicles, firearms, etc, etc. And heaven forbid you ever ask about what oil is best on any vehicle and firearm forum.

 

[Corefile]

I never understood why apple was promoting such powerful processors in their phones. After all its just a phone, and 90% of the people only use it for texting, photos and some light weight apps. We don't need our phones to compute the mass of the universe.

Getting all the core processing into HW of the chip dramatically reduced the power needed. Faster means it does more utility in less power. That all saves battery life. Further, processing speed of today will be used for tomorrow's use cases.

Skate to where the puck is going, as Steve would say.

 

[maflynn]

processing speed of today will be used for tomorrow's use cases.

99% of the people imo, don't need the level of processor power provided current day phones. the apps, games they use simply don't need that.

Skate to where the puck is going, as Steve would say.

That was actually Wayne Gretzsky

 

[geta]

The A18 Pro chip isn't the problem, but to sell the MBN with only 8GB of RAM and limited storage options are.

People tend to forget that there is a difference between running a phone with small screen and limited iOS to a laptop with 13” screen and full MacOS while using the same chip and amount of memory.

 

[Howard2k]

The A18 Pro chip isn't the problem, but to sell the MBN with only 8GB of RAM and limited storage options are.

People tend to forget that there is a difference between running a phone with small screen and limited iOS to a laptop with 13” screen and full MacOS while using the same chip and amount of memory.

If only there was some what that Apple could have tested this. It seems that they're doomed to launch a product and have them all returned, at a major hit to both profitability and brand.

 

[JPack]

If only there was some what that Apple could have tested this. It seems that they're doomed to launch a product and have them all returned, at a major hit to both profitability and brand.

I really don't understand how people forget M1-M3 was sold with 8/256. It's almost as if Apple would have some inkling of the sales mix between base and upgraded models.

 

[4sallypat]

I really don't understand how people forget M1-M3 was sold with 8/256. It's almost as if Apple would have some inkling of the sales mix between base and upgraded models.

Yes, love my M1 Mini 8GB and M2 MBA 15" 8GB - both have been perfect without complaints for years now.

 

[geta]

I really don't understand how people forget M1-M3 was sold with 8/256. It's almost as if Apple would have some inkling of the sales mix between base and upgraded models.

You are talking about M1 computers from 2020, in that time they also sold iPhones with 3-4GB RAM. Since then few years passed and now 8/256 is not enough when you buy new products, just as you wont be happy to know that the latest iPhone will contain only 4GB of RAM.

However, just because people are willing to compromise on these things doesn't mean it's right/ok.

As for people who still using their old Macs with only 8/256, that means nothing, since the average person doesn't replace their computers every year, they will keep using it until it's unusable, and once that happens they won't buy a new Mac with the same amount or RAM/storage.

 

[Non-Euclidean]

I seem to remember sometime after the iPhone 15 Pro launched, people were pointing out the capabilities of the A17 Pro with its speeds being close to M1 and having 8GB of RAM. People wanted Apple to make a way for the device to basically run iPad or macOS when docked and connected to an external display, mouse, and keyboard. I was one of those people and did as much as I could with iOS as it is.

Now we have basically the same thing, just brought to life in a slightly different form. Functionally speaking, the Neo is not as portable but is much more practical and uses the same core hardware as our iPhone dreams. So why are people so upset about the fact that it uses the A18 Pro and 8GB of ram now? Before it was desired and would be really cool. Now it's dumb and not sufficient for anything. What is the logic behind this? I'm genuinely curious.

Edit: Spelling

Because they need a lot of whine to go with the cheese in their posts.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

So why are people so upset about the fact that it uses the A18 Pro and 8GB of ram now? Before it was desired and would be really cool. Now it's dumb and not sufficient for anything. What is the logic behind this? I'm genuinely curious.

Edit: Spelling

Most people live in their own bubble and feel the need to judge things they have no use for themselves.

They just cannot imagine someone doing all their work on a Neo, therefor Neo must be bad.

 

[JPack]

You are talking about M1 computers from 2020, in that time they also sold iPhones with 3-4GB RAM. Since then few years passed and now 8/256 is not enough when you buy new products, just as you wont be happy to know that the latest iPhone will contain only 4GB of RAM.

However, just because people are willing to compromise on these things doesn't mean it's right/ok.

As for people who still using their old Macs with only 8/256, that means nothing, since the average person doesn't replace their computers every year, they will keep using it until it's unusable, and once that happens they won't buy a new Mac with the same amount or RAM/storage.

Prosumer features cascade down to entry-level products. M3 8/256 was sold through 2023.

MacBook Air is a prosumer device, while the MacBook Pro is for professionals. Apple bumped the memory to 16GB for MBA to create space for entry-level Neo.

Again, look the price. 8GB is acceptable for a $499/$599 notebook. How do you know it's not "right" or "not enough" for the group buying Neo?